Manitoba wildfires that prompted huge evacuations still raging Thursday

Massive wildfires in northern Manitoba are still raging according to the province’s latest fire bulletin.

The wildfire that prompted the evacuations of Wasagamack, St. Theresa Point and Garden Hill First Nations Tuesday afternoon remains just one kilometre from Wasagamack.

“It’s because it’s wind driven and very high temperatures and low relative humidity forced the fire along extremely fast,” Gary Friesen, Manitoba Conservation’s fire program manager said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "It's because it's wind driven and very high temperatures and low relative humidity forced the fire along extremely fast," Gary Friesen, Manitoba Conservation's fire program manager said.

READ MORE: Wildfires force 3 Manitoba communities to evacuate

On Wednesday the province initially said the fire was 77,000 hectares but on Thursday revealed that it was a 77,000 meter perimeter and the fire is actually 23,000 hectares in size.

Fire crews are continuing to battle the fire on the line closest to Wasagamack First Nation.

WATCH: Province, Canadian Red Cross speak about wildfires, evacuations Wednesday

1:31 Red Cross speaks about contingency plans for extended evacuations

• Red Cross speaks about contingency plans for extended evacuations
• Province speaks about battling wildfire that prompted evacuations
• Canadian Red Cross VP provides update on evacuations, need for planes
• Province provides briefing on wildfire, evacuations Wednesday
• Canadian Red Cross provides overview of Manitoba wildfire evacuations

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The federal government provided two Hercules planes to help taxi evacuees between Island Lakes and Winnipeg Thursday.  The military said it’s the first time in recent history its planes had been used to evacuate Manitobans from a wildfire.

READ MORE: Winnipeg’s RBC Convention Centre to house wildfire evacuees

“It will definitely help us get more people to Winnipeg as we work to get all of the people that are to be evacuated out of the three communities down here,” said Red Cross spokesperson Jason Small.

The Red Cross set up a temporary shelter for evacuees at the RBC Convention Centre Thursday. It’s expected that evacuation efforts will continue into  Friday.

Poplar River First Nation was evacuated over a week ago as a precaution, leaving 834 people displaced. The fire that threatened the community is now three and a half kilometres away and 4,600 hecatres.

The province said crews are working on the north side of that fire.